Straddling the boundary between Europe and Asia, Turkey has played host to countless territorial battles and given rise to some of history’s greatest empires. The country’s rich cultural heritage is evident in its diverse architectural wonders – beautifully preserved Roman cities, stunning Byzantine churches and awe-inspiring Ottoman mosques. Travellers from Australia and New Zealand will be particularly interested in the battlefields of Gallipoli, while Turkey’s natural marvels – broad rivers, snow-capped mountains and blissful beaches, to name just a few – are guaranteed to entice even the most ardent city slicker. After a day of sightseeing, you can shop for exquisite carpets and handicrafts in a bustling bazaar or sample superb cuisine and coffee in one of Turkey’s many traditional restaurants. Key Highlights Istanbul is Turkey’s exotic capital, a riot of colour, culture and magnificent old buildings. Visitors will be awestruck by the Hagia Sophia cathedral, the Blue Mosque and the remarkable Byzantine Hippodrome. Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, boasting over 4,000 shops selling everything from carpets to caviar. A lively harbour town on the Dardanelles strait, Canakkale is the gateway to Troy, an archaeological site dating back to 3000 BC that features prominently in Homer’s Iliad. Also close to Canakkale are the battlefields of Gallipoli, where Anzac forces played a key role in some of the bloodiest fighting of World War I. Set on Turkey’s Aegean Coast, Ephesus is the best-preserved Roman city in the eastern Mediterranean. Remnants of this ancient trading centre include a 25,000-seat theatre, a library that once held 12,000 scrolls and a marble-paved street known as the Sacred Way. The Cappadocia region is home to incredible chimney-like rock formations and prehistoric underground dwellings. A highlight of this fairytale area is Goreme, where early Christians built cave churches decorated with elaborate biblical frescoes. In Depth People have been flocking to Pamukkale since Roman times, drawn by the supposedly curative properties of the town’s warm, calcium-rich waters, which cascade down the hillside via a series of white limestone pools and terraces. Another splendid classical site, Aphrodisias is named after the Greek goddess Aphrodite and houses Turkey’s largest ancient theatre, which once seated over 30,000 spectators. Mt Nemrut is a 2150-metre-high peak in southeastern Turkey, famous for the mysterious statues populating its summit. Standing nearly 10 metres tall, these stone giants were constructed by the egotistical King Antiochus more than 2000 years ago.